Induction of vitelline envelope proteins by estradiol-17 beta in 10 teleost species.

Induction of vitelline envelope proteins by estradiol-17 beta was investigated in 14 teleost species from five systematic groups to assess whether estradiol-17 beta controls the synthesis of vitelline envelope proteins in teleost fish. Vitelline envelope proteins were detected in plasma from fish treated with estradiol-17 beta using three different antisera directed against vitelline envelope proteins from three teleosts. Induction of vitelline envelope proteins was demonstrated in 10 species. In 6 of these species males were available and used to demonstrate that the synthesis of vitelline envelope proteins is not restricted to the ovaries. The immunoreactivity of the proteins varied considerably within and between species. It is suggested that the synthesis of vitelline envelope proteins is controlled by estradiol-17 beta in the majority of teleost species.